Bolster for a freight wagon truck

ABSTRACT

A bolster for a freight wagon truck relates to structural elements of freight wagon trucks. Locator recesses ( 8.2 ) with a bearing surface ( 8.3 ) and thrust rims ( 8.4 ) are formed in side walls of guiding pockets ( 8 ). Wear-resistant lateral guiding plates ( 9 ) are secured within locator recesses ( 8.2 ) on the bearing surface ( 8.3 ), and wear-resistant inserts ( 10 ) are secured on inclined surfaces ( 8.5 ). The use of wear-resistant lateral guiding plates ( 9 ) and wear-resistant inserts ( 10 ) protects side and inclined surfaces of guiding pockets ( 8 ) engaging with friction wedges of the shock absorber from contact wear.  17  dependent claims,  6  figures.

This application claims priority to Russian Application No. 2015102487 filed 27 Jan. 2015, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to structural elements of railway rolling stock carriages, in particular to bolsters for freight wagon trucks.

RU 104523 (published on 20 May 2011, Int. class. B61 F 5/52) discloses a bolster for a freight wagon truck, the bolster comprising an upper flange with support shelves for side bearers with two pairs of mounting holes, a center plate with a bearing surface and a thrust rim, and guiding pockets arranged at end portions of the bolster and comprising side walls and an inclined bearing surface.

The known bolster however exhibits undesirably low wear resistance of working surfaces of the guiding pockets due to the absence of protective wear-resistant elements. As a result, inclined working surfaces and side working surfaces of the guiding pockets directly engage with friction wedges of the shock absorber, thus leading to undesirable wear and short exploitation period.

Further, RU 118275 (published on 20 Jul. 2012, Int. class. B 61 F5/52) discloses a bolster for a freight wagon truck, the bolster comprising an upper flange with support shelves for side bearers with two pairs of mounting holes, a center plate with a bearing surface and a thrust rim, and guiding pockets arranged at end portions of the bolster and comprising side walls and an inclined bearing surface.

Similarly, the disadvantage of said device, which can be considered to be the closest prior art to the present inventive device, is undesirable wear of working surfaces of the guiding pockets engaging with friction wedges of the shock absorber due to lack of wear-resistant elements on planes of the guiding pockets.

The present invention is directed to increasing bolster reliability.

According to one embodiment, the bolster for a freight wagon truck comprises an upper flange with support shelves for side bearers with two pairs of mounting holes, a center plate with a bearing surface and a thrust rim, and guiding pockets arranged at end portions of the bolster and comprising side walls and an inclined bearing surface, wherein locator recesses with a bearing surface and thrust rims are formed in the side walls of the guiding pockets, and wherein wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are secured within the locator recesses on bearing surfaces; said guiding plates having thickness greater than the depth of the locator recess and the height of the thrust rims, and wherein wear-resistant inserts are secured on the inclined bearing surfaces of the guiding pockets.

According to another example embodiment, wear-resistant inserts can be secured within the bolster pockets by means of fasteners placed within corresponding through holes formed in the wall of the inclined surface of the guiding pockets and in the wear-resistant inserts.

According to another example embodiment, wear-resistant lateral guiding plates can be secured within the bolster pockets by means of fasteners placed within corresponding through holes formed in side walls of the guiding pockets and in the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates.

According to another example embodiment, fasteners can be selected from screws, bolts and nuts, or rivets. Advantageously, the distance between fastener heads and the working surface of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant inserts indicates wear of the working surfaces of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant insert.

According to another example embodiment, walls of the guiding pockets at exit points of through holes for fasteners on the side of inner surfaces are thickened and load-bearing.

According to various example embodiments, wear-resistant lateral guiding plates can be secured within guiding pockets by welding; wear-resistant inserts can be secured within guiding pockets by welding; wear-resistant lateral guiding plates or wear-resistant inserts can be secured within guiding pockets by welding and by means of fasteners; wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and wear-resistant inserts can be secured within guiding pockets by welding and by means of fasteners.

According to another example embodiment, wear-resistant lateral guiding plates can be made of a composite non-metallic material, e.g. a high molecular weight polyethylene; wear-resistant inserts are made of a composite non-metallic material, e.g. a high molecular weight polyethylene; thrust rims of the locator recesses of the guiding pockets can be continuous or discontinuous; the end face of the support shelf for side bearers is usually arranged parallel to the end surface of the bolster; thickness of the support shelf for side bearers is in the range from 25 mm to 30 mm; area of the support shelves for side bearers can be up to 60% of the bolster upper flange area; the transitional portion between the center plate and the support shelf for side bearers is inclined towards the support shelf for side bearers, wherein the distance between the bearing surface of the center plate and the surface of the support shelf for side bearers is in the range from 45 mm to 50 mm; and surfaces of the support shelves for side bearers are raised with respect to the surface of the bolster upper flange for 0 to 10 mm.

Comparative analysis with respect to the prior art shows that the disclosed bolster for a freight wagon truck differs from the prior art in that locator recesses with a bearing surface and thrust rims are arranged in side walls of the guiding pockets, wear-resistant lateral guiding plates having thickness greater than the depth of the locator recess and the height of the thrust rims are secured within the locator recesses on bearing surfaces, wear-resistant inserts are secured on the inclined bearing surfaces of the guiding pockets; wear-resistant inserts are secured within the bolster pockets by means of fasteners placed within corresponding through holes formed in the wall of the inclined surface of the guiding pockets and in the wear-resistant inserts; wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are secured within the bolster pockets by means of fasteners placed within corresponding through holes formed in side walls of the guiding pockets and in the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates; fasteners are screws, bolts and nuts, or rivets; the distance between fastener heads and the working surface of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant inserts indicates wear of the working surfaces of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant insert; walls of the guiding pockets at exit points of through holes for fasteners on the side of inner surfaces are thickened and load-bearing; wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are secured within guiding pockets by welding; wear-resistant inserts are secured within guiding pockets by welding; wear-resistant lateral guiding plates or wear-resistant inserts are secured within guiding pockets by welding and by means of fasteners; wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and wear-resistant inserts are secured within guiding pockets by welding and by means of fasteners; wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are made of a composite non-metallic material, e.g. a high molecular weight polyethylene; wear-resistant inserts are made of a composite non-metallic material, e.g. a high molecular weight polyethylene; thrust rims of the locator recesses of the guiding pockets are continuous or discontinuous; the end face of the support shelf for side bearers is parallel to the end surface of the bolster; thickness of the support shelf for side bearers is in the range from 25 mm to 30 mm; area of the support shelves for side bearers is up to 60% of the bolster upper flange area; the transitional portion between the center plate and the support shelf for side bearers is inclined towards the support shelf for side bearers, wherein the distance between the bearing surface of the center plate and the surface of the support shelf for side bearers is in the range from 45 mm to 50 mm; and surfaces of the support shelves for side bearers are raised with respect to the surface of the bolster upper flange for 0 to 10 mm. The differences from the prior art described hereinabove show that the present technical solution meets the novelty criterion of patentability.

The present invention is described with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is the main view of a bolster;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the bolster of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the guiding pocket, in which screws are used as fasteners;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the guiding pocket, in which rivets are used as fasteners;

FIG. 5 is an axonometric projection of the bolster;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of the axonometric projection of the bolster with wear-resistant elements shown separately for clarity.

The bolster for a freight train truck comprises an upper flange 1 (FIG. 1, 2) with support shelves 2 and mounting holes 3 for mounting and securing side bearers (not shown), and a center plate 4 with a bearing surface 5 and a thrust rim 6. Guiding pockets 8 are formed at end portions 7 of the bearer. Protective elements formed by lateral wear-resistant guiding plates 9 and wear-resistant inserts 10 are secured within guiding pockets 8. Said protective elements are configured for contact engagement with friction wedges (not shown) of a shock absorber of the freight wagon, and are configured to protect surfaces of guiding pockets 8 from wear. Locator recesses 8.2 with a bearing surface 8.3 and thrust rims 8.4 are formed in side walls 8.1 (FIG. 3, 4) of guiding pockets 8. Thrust rims 8.4 function as locator thrusts, orienting and further retaining the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9 on side walls 8.1. Wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9 are secured within locator recesses 8.2 on bearing surfaces 8.3 by means of fasteners, e.g. screws 11 or rivets 12. Wear-resistant inserts 10 are secured on the inclined surface 8.5 of the guiding pockets 8 by means of fasteners, e.g. screws 11. In order to ensure protection of side walls 8.1 of the guiding pockets 8, the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9 have a thickness greater than the depth of the locator recess 8.2 and the height of thrust rims 8.4 (FIG. 4, 5). Walls 8.1 are provided with thickened portions 8.6 and support shelves 8.7 at exit points of through holes for fasteners 11, 12. Wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9 and wear-resistant inserts 10 can also be secured within guiding pockets 8 by welding, wherein welding can be the primary and only fastening means, or additional means when fasteners 11, 12 are used. Welding can be performed using continuous or intermittent welding seams. In case where fasteners formed by screws or rivets 12 are used for securing wear-resistant inserts 10 and wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9, the distance <<h₁>> (FIG. 4) between fastener 11, 12 heads and working surfaces 9.1, 10.1 can indicate wear of said working surfaces. Wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9 and wear-resistant inserts 10 can be made of a composite non-metallic material, e.g. a high molecular weight polyethylene. Thrust rims 8.4 of the guiding pockets 8 can be continuous or discontinuous. The end face 13 of the support shelves 2 for side bearers is positioned parallel to end surfaces 14 of the bolster, wherein thickness <<h₂>> (FIG. 1) of the support shelf 2 for side bearers is in the range from 25 mm to 30 mm. The area of the support shelves 2 for side bearers can be equal to 60% of the bolster upper flange 1 area. Transitions 15 from the center plate 4 to support shelves 2 for side bearers are inclined towards the corresponding support shelves 2 for side bearers. The distance between the bearing surface 5 of the center plate and the surface of the support shelf 2 for side bearers is in the range from 45 mm to 50 mm. The surfaces of the support shelves 2 for side bearers can be raised with respect to the surface of the bolster upper flange for 0 to 10 mm.

The bolster for a freight wagon truck is utilized as follows.

Freight wagon weight load is transferred to the bearing surface 5 of the center plate 4 and to the support shelves 2. The load is then transferred from the bolster to friction wedges and springs of the spring set (not shown) via wear-resistant inserts 10 (FIG. 6) mounted on the inclined surface 8.5. Friction wedges received in guiding pockets 8 between wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9 engage with working surfaces 10.1 of the wear-resistant inserts 10, thus absorbing bolster vibration with respect to the side frame of the freight wagon truck by means of frictional forces arising between said surfaces. Side walls 8.1 of the guiding pockets 8 are reliably protected from the effects caused by friction wedges due to the fact that wear-resistant lateral guiding plates 9 have a thickness greater than the depth of locator recess 8.2 and the height of thrust rims 8.4. Distances <<h₁>> (FIG. 3, 4) between fastener heads and working surfaces 9.1, 10.1 of the protective elements 9, 10 can be used as wear limit indicators for said working surfaces. The wear limit of protective elements 9, 10 is reached when distances <<h₁>> reach zero and end surfaces of fastener 11, 12 heads start experiencing wear, whereupon said protective elements need to be replaced.

The use of protective elements formed by lateral wear-resistant guiding plates 9 on side walls 8.1 and by wear-resistant inserts 10 on inclined surfaces 8.5 of the guiding pockets 8, and the use of thrust rims 8.4 functioning as locator abutments orienting and further retaining wear-resistant guiding plates 9 on side walls 8.1, result in a significant increase in reliability of the bolster for a freight wagon truck. Combined attachment of the protective elements by means of fasteners and welding, or separate attachment only by means of fasteners or only by welding, further increases bolster reliability. 

1. A bolster for a freight wagon truck, the bolster comprising an upper flange with support shelves for side bearers with two pairs of mounting holes, a center plate with a bearing surface and a thrust rim, and guiding pockets arranged at end portions of the bolster and comprising side walls and an inclined bearing surface, the bolster characterized in that locator recesses with a bearing surface and thrust rims are formed in the side walls of the guiding pockets, wherein wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are secured within the locator recesses on bearing surfaces, said guiding plates having thickness greater than the depth of the locator recess and the height of the thrust rims, and wherein wear-resistant inserts are secured on the inclined bearing surfaces of the guiding pockets.
 2. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant inserts are secured within the bolster pockets by means of fasteners placed within corresponding through holes formed in the wall of the inclined surface of the guiding pockets and in the wear-resistant inserts.
 3. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are secured within the bolster pockets by means of fasteners placed within corresponding through holes formed in side walls of the guiding pockets and in the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates.
 4. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are secured within guiding pockets by welding.
 5. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant inserts are secured within guiding pockets by welding.
 6. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant lateral guiding plates or wear-resistant inserts are secured within guiding pockets by welding and by means of fasteners.
 7. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and wear-resistant inserts are secured within guiding pockets by welding and by means of fasteners.
 8. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant lateral guiding plates are made of a composite non-metallic material, e.g. a high molecular weight polyethylene.
 9. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that wear-resistant inserts are made of a composite non-metallic material, e.g. a high molecular weight polyethylene.
 10. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that thrust rims of the locator recesses of the guiding pockets are continuous or discontinuous.
 11. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that the end face of the support shelf for side bearers is parallel to the end surface of the bolster.
 12. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the support shelf for side bearers is in the range from 25 mm to 30 mm.
 13. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the support shelves for side bearers is up to 60% of the bolster upper flange area.
 14. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that the transitional portion between the center plate and the support shelf for side bearers is inclined towards the support shelf for side bearers, wherein the distance between the bearing surface of the center plate and the surface of the support shelf for side bearers is in the range from 45 mm to 50 mm.
 15. The bolster according to claim 1, characterized in that surfaces of the support shelves for side bearers are raised with respect to the surface of the bolster upper flange for 0 to 10 mm.
 16. The bolster according to claim 2, characterized in that fasteners are screws, bolts and nuts, or rivets.
 17. The bolster according to claim 2, characterized in that the distance between fastener heads and the working surface of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant inserts indicates wear of the working surfaces of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant insert.
 18. The bolster according to claim 2, characterized in that walls of the guiding pockets at exit points of through holes for fasteners on the side of inner surfaces are thickened and load-bearing.
 19. The bolster according to claim 3, characterized in that fasteners are screws, bolts and nuts, or rivets.
 20. The bolster according to claim 3, characterized in that the distance between fastener heads and the working surface of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant inserts indicates wear of the working surfaces of the wear-resistant lateral guiding plates and the wear-resistant insert.
 21. The bolster according to claim 3, characterized in that walls of the guiding pockets at exit points of through holes for fasteners on the side of inner surfaces are thickened and load-bearing. 